Folding crate



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. MOLL, O. TOLLY & E. SIMS. FOLDING CRATE.

No. 600,589. Patented Mar. 15,1898.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. MOLL, C. TOLLY 8: E. SIMS. FOLDING CRATENo. 600,589. Patented Mar. l5 1898.

wanna UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MOLL, CHARLES TOLLY, AND EDGAR SIMS, OF OBED, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,589, dated March15, 1898.

Application filed June 3, 1895'. Serial No. 639,211. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN MoLL, CHARLES TOLLY, and EDGAR SIMS, citizensof the United States, residing at Obed, in the county of Shelby andState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Folding Crate, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improved folding crate 5 and it has for itsobject the pro duetion of a crate especially designed for poultry,simple and strong in construction, and capable of being folded into asmall compact shape when desired for shipment empty.

The invention will first be described in connection with theaccompanying drawing sand then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of our improved crate,showing the tops raised and the ends opened for clearer illustration.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the crate set up ready for use. Fig. 3is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of the crate folded.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that our improved crate is ofdouble construction, having two separate and distinct compartment,divided by a central vertical partitions and is preferably constructedof light wood, the bottoms being solid, while the central partition,tops, sides, and ends are of the usual slatted construction.

A represents the central partition, to the upper and lower edges ofwhich horizontal strips a and b, respectively, are secured, the formerstrip being slightly wider than the latter in order to permit thefolding of the crate, as hereinafter described. To the bottom strip (2,one on each side edge thereof, are hinged the bottoms B and B, thehinges 1 being on the upper sides of the strip and bottoms, permittingthe bottoms to be turned upward when desired to fold the crate. To theouter edges of bottoms B and B' the sides 0 and C, respectively, arehinged, as at 2, in such manner as to permit the sides to be turnedinward upon the bottoms. To the rear end of side C and to the forwardend of side 0 the rear and front ends D and D, respectively, are hingedat 3, the ends being of the entire width of the two compartments, asshown, and adapted to turn back upon the sides to which they are hinged,small catches 4 of any well-known construction serving to secure thefree ends of parts D and I) to the free ends of sides (3' and C,respectively, as shown in Fig. 53.

E and E represent the tops, hinged at 5 to the strip a and adapted toturn either upward or downward, this result being accomplished byleaving a small space between the edges of the tops and the edges of thestrip a,as seen in Fig. 2. In each top a small opening is cut for theintroduction of poultry, said openings being closed by covers 0 and e,catches U securing the covers to the tops. The tops, when the crate isset up, are secured by suitable catches 7, en gagiu g keepers on therespective sides.

In order to render the respective ends D and D firm and substantial, anotch 8 is formed centrally in the upper edge of each, which notchessnugly embrace small tenons 9, secured to the under side of strip a, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Assuming the crate to be set up as shown in Fig. 2, then when it isdesired to fold it catches 4 and 7 are withdrawn from the keepers, thetops E and E are turned upward to the positions shown in Fig. 1 out ofthe way, the ends D and D are folded back upon the sides 0 and C,respectively, the sides and ends turned inward upon the bottoms B and B,and the latter, carrying the ends and sides, turned upward against thecentral partition A. The tops E and E are now turned down outside thesides, ends, and bottoms, the additional width of the upper strip ahereinbefore mentioned permitting the tops to fit snugly against thebottoms, as shown in Fig. 3. The crate is now folded, the various partsoccupying the positions shown in Fig. 3 and assuming a small compactshape ready for shipment in an empty condition.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding crate com prisin ga central partition, horizontal stripssecured to the upper and lower edges of said partition, tops hinged tothe upper strip, bottoms hinged to the lower strip, sides hinged to therespective bottoms, and ends hinged to the sides, said ends being of theentire width of the crate and each hinged to the opposite end of eachrespective side.

2. A folding crate comprising a central partition, horizontal stripssecured to the upper and lower edges of said partition, tops hinged tothe upper strip, bottoms hinged to the lower strip, sides hinged to therespective bottoms, and ends hinged to the sides, said ends being of theentire width of the crate, each hinged to the opposite end of eachrespective side, and each adapted to be locked to the free end of theside opposite to that to which it is hinged.

3. A folding crate comprising a central partition, horizontal stripssecured to the upper and lower edges of said partition, the upper stripbeing slightly wider than the lower strip, bottoms hinged to the edgesof the lower strip, sides hinged to the bottoms, ends hinged to thesides, and tops hinged to the upper strip, substantially as and for thepurposes stated.

4:. A folding crate comprising a central partition, horizontal stripssecured to the upper and lower edges of said partition, the upper stripbeing formed with a tenon on its under side near each end, bottomshinged to the edges of the lower strip, sides hinged to the bottoms,ends hinged to the sides, and tops hinged to the upper strip, said endsbeing formed with a notch adapted to snugly embrace the tenons on theupper strip when the crate is set up, as and for the purposes stated.

5. A folding crate comprising a central partition, horizontal stripssecured. to the upper and lower edges of said partition, the upper stripbeing slightly wider than the lower strip and having a tenon centrallysecured on its under side near each end, bottoms hinged to the edges ofthe lower strip, sides hinged to the bottoms, ends hinged to the sides,and tops hinged to the upper strip, said ends being centrally formedwith a notch adapted to snugly embrace the tenons on the upper stripwhen the crate is set up, as and for the purposes stated.

6. A folding crate comprising a central partition, horizontal stripssecured to the upper and lower edges of said partition, bottoms hingedto the lower strip and adapted to turn upward, sides hinged to thebottoms and adapted to turn inward, ends hinged respectively to theopposite sides and adapted to turn back upon the sides, and tops hingedto the upper strip on the partition and adapted to turn downward,whereby the crate may be folded into a small compact shape,substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaflixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MOLL. CHARLES TOLLY. EDGAR SIMS.

Vitnesscs:

JEssE PIERCE, EDWARD KLAR.

